Yuan Yunzhong clearly was not prepared to let Lord Wang and Eunuch Wan off the hook.
He swiftly pulled out a list from his sleeve and said, "This is the order sent to the Imperial Kiln Factory by the Manufacturing Office this year, which includes a pair of blue and white elephant leg vases as tall as a person. Since the Jingde Town Imperial Kiln Factory is also under Lord Wang’s administration, please ensure Lord Wang urges Eunuch Wan to produce these tall blue and white elephant leg vases sooner, so the Manufacturing Office can settle their duty to the emperor early."
Lord Wang’s face had already turned a ghastly pale with a hint of black.
Although he was not knowledgeable about porcelain, he had heard how difficult it was to fire large pieces—the emperor wanted a pair of dragon jars for his 25th birthday celebration, and the Manufacturing Office tried to make them for two years without success, eventually giving up.
These life-sized elephant leg vases, since Yuan Yunzhong specifically mentioned them, must also be very difficult to produce.
He couldn’t help but lose his temper and said, "Lord Yuan seems to be here to investigate the case of Prince Ning, right? Why have you also started to manage local affairs?"
The emperor’s paranoia was usually very severe. This kind of overreaching by officials could easily lead to accusations by remonstrant officials for abuse of power for personal gain, or forming cliques, and such accusations were often readily believed by the emperor. Thus, it was a major taboo for officials.
Yuan Yunzhong sneered, "Then Lord Wang, do not forget the secret memorial report."
As he spoke, he threw the list at Eunuch Wan’s face, saying, "Take a good look, make sure you don’t fail to deliver the goods on time."
Eunuch Wan felt like dying.
Originally, whether the porcelain could be successfully fired depended on many factors, and no one could guarantee success. The Manufacturing Office was no fool; even though they placed the order, they would deceive those above them and not show it to the emperor, only urging them to speed up the process. If they couldn’t finish on time, there was still some room for manoeuvre. This was one of the tricks in officialdom.
But now that he was targeted by Yuan Yunzhong, the Manufacturing Office would certainly rather sacrifice him than take the blame themselves.
If he failed to produce them, his life might truly be in danger.
"Lord Yuan! Lord Yuan!" he begged in a murmur, not knowing where he had gone wrong. He thought Song Jiyun was someone Yuan Yunzhong had met or known during his incognito inspection. Yet he clung to a glimmer of hope that if Song Tao could also make them, he could use the opportunity to recommend Song Tao, and later let the Liangyu Kiln Factory subcontract for the Imperial Kiln Factory.
He looked through the crowd for Song Tao, hoping Song Tao could give him a definite answer so he would know how to proceed.
But he did not see Song Tao.
Eunuch Wan’s eyes were bloodshot.
This vile woman, where had she hidden herself?
She had just been at the very front.
Did she see that he was losing power and, fearing to be implicated, chose to run away?
When he survived this ordeal, he would thoroughly deal with her.
Meanwhile, Lord Wang, having been utterly discredited by Yuan Yunzhong and unable to bear his arrogance any longer, snorted coldly, "You think I don’t dare to send a secret memorial? I was considering that you and Brother Jing Nian are cousins, and you are still young and early in your career. I didn’t want to ruin your prospects by arguing with you. Do you think I don’t dare?"
Yuan Yunzhong scoffed at his rhetoric, "I’ve been serving in the Hanlin Academy since I was fourteen, I don’t deserve Lord Wang’s ’early in your career.’ It seems Lord Wang, when not busy, should correspond more with his elder brother, otherwise relying on hearsay often leads to big troubles."
Lord Wang was so angry that his nose was crooked, and he said sternly, "I will send a secret memorial report right now."
Yuan Yunzhong disdainfully curled his lips and ordered the people around him, "Prepare the writing brush, paper, inkstone, and ink for Lord Wang!"
Lord Wang found himself unable to step down.
He looked towards Lord Huang.
Lord Huang chuckled and played it down, "You must have heard that my teacher only has Lord Yuan as his sole descendant. Although usually it’s either beating or scolding, that is the affection between their father and son, and we outsiders should not interfere."
"If Master Jinghu were to know about this, a son-in-law beating his grandson would be considered natural and justified, yet a father-in-law disciplining his son-in-law is also within the bounds of normal human relations. It is us, the creators of this trouble, who indeed might be suspected of stirring up discord."
"Anyone could come and mediate this quarrel, but not me! I beg for Lord Wang’s understanding—forgive me!"
Having said this, he deeply bowed to Lord Wang, causing Lord Wang’s face to alternate between shades of green and white.
Song Jiyun felt a myriad of emotions upon hearing this.
Yuan Yunzhong, this fellow, not only came from an official’s family but also belonged to a lineage of high-ranking officials, spanning three generations. Even the Inspector General of Jiangxi was his senior brother. No wonder Magistrate Jiang had once mentioned Lord Huang.
No wonder Magistrate Jiang had an old connection with Yuan Yunzhong? What was Yuan Yunzhong to him?
She recalled past events.
Suddenly, a melancholic voice reached her ears, "So you are Lord Yuan’s fiancée!"
Song Jiyun jumped in shock.
Turning around, she discovered it was Immortal Baoguang. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
She didn’t know when he had positioned himself behind her.
He looked at Song Jiyun with mournful eyes and said with a sense of grievance, "Miss Song, why didn’t you say so earlier? It’s truly like a flood washing through Dragon Tiger Temple—one family doesn’t recognize another. Lord Yuan is my grandfather!"
"What?!" Song Jiyun was utterly astonished.
Considering Yuan Yunzhong’s age, of course, he couldn’t possibly be his grandfather.
It was a foolishly claimed relationship.
Yet Immortal Baoguang had the audacity to say that Yuan Yunzhong was his grandfather while Yuan Yunzhong was performing a religious retreat at Dragon Tiger Mountain, clearly not a feeble person...this...this was utterly shameless!
But Immortal Baoguang didn’t elaborate further. Instead, he turned and prostrated himself before Yuan Yunzhong, shamelessly clutching Yuan Yunzhong’s legs, and cried out loudly, "Grandfather!"
Not to mention Yuan Yunzhong, everyone else was also stupefied.
Yuan Yunzhong even tried to kick him away while saying, "Who are you?"
Yet, Immortal Baoguang clung tightly to Yuan Yunzhong and said, "I am Qin Zhi! My godfather is Qin Fang! I once listened to your lectures in the inner chamber. ’Once a teacher, forever a father.’ Aren’t you in fact my grandfather?"
Everyone was left speechless, staring at each other in disbelief.
They gained a new understanding of Immortal Baoguang’s shamelessness.
Yet he took pride in it, shamelessly proclaiming, "When I left the capital, my godfather instructed me repeatedly to be humble and cautious. Since I was out of the capital, I must not embarrass the Emperor nor him. I heard that Your Excellency was inspecting Jiangxi, and I thought to visit you several times but heard you were not in the Provincial Governor’s Office. Who would have thought I’d actually meet you here? Isn’t this fate? How about letting me kowtow to you and pay my respects, otherwise when I return to the capital, my godfather will surely scold me."
Having said this, he finally let go of Yuan Yunzhong, respectfully performing a grand ritual before him.
All of this was utter chaos.
Lord Wang and others wore expressions of barely tolerable annoyance yet remained enduring.
Yuan Yunzhong, however, stepped away from his salutation and said, "Stand up straight. Since you’re performing a religious retreat on behalf of the Emperor, how can you just kneel and bow to anyone, how can you justify your garments?"
Immortal Baoguang immediately began crying and pleading to Yuan Yunzhong, "It’s all Wan Xiaoquan’s fault. I just came here to meet the Wind and Fire Immortal Child, and he treated his authority like it was a feather turned into an arrow, asking Lord Wang to discipline me. I know, Lord Wang comes from the Metropolitan Censorate as an Imperial Officer, even my godfather doesn’t regard him highly. But I really didn’t do anything! I am innocent! Lord Yuan, you must stand up for me!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
